UAE travelers can now use Jaywan cards to book Etihad Airways flights online. It is the first airline to accept the country’s domestic payment card for flight purchases. The payment option is now available on Etihad’s website for UAE-based customers.
Jaywan cardholders can use it to book flights across Etihad Airways’ global network. Jaywan is operated by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. The national domestic card scheme was officially launched in July 2026.
Etihad said the payment facility is the first stage of a wider partnership with Al Etihad Payments. More benefits are planned for Etihad Guest members who hold Jaywan Royal cards. These customers will be eligible for exclusive discounts on Comfort and Deluxe fares. They will also receive priority access privileges. Etihad said these benefits will be introduced soon. Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest at Etihad Airways, emphasized that the new payment option gives UAE customers more choice when paying for travel. He added that the partnership will bring additional rewards for Etihad Guest members using Jaywan Royal cards.
Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Products Officer at Al Etihad Payments, said the agreement gives Jaywan users another way to use the card for everyday payments. He said flight bookings add a new use case for the national payment scheme. The partnership follows an agreement signed between Etihad and Al Etihad Payments in October 2025. Banks and licensed financial institutions are continuing to issue Jaywan cards across the UAE.
The Etihad integration comes as the UAE expands the use of Jaywan across different parts of the economy. Tourism is one of the sectors targeted under the wider push. The Emirates Tourism Council plans to increase the number of tourism establishments accepting Jaywan. It also plans to develop packages linked to resident benefit programs such as Esaad, Fazaa and Saada.
The initiative encourages residents to spend more on local tourism. It covers areas such as hotels, attractions and other tourism services. The wider effort supports the UAE’s National Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy aims to raise the tourism sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP to AED 450 billion by 2031.
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